Propeller for flying-machines or marine vessels.



D. D. WELLS.

PROPBLLER FOR FLYING MACHINES 0R MARINE VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 190B.

Patented July 11, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M, A v

El-Mun l'oz D D. WELLS. PROPELLBB. FOR FLYING MAGHINES 0R MARINE VESSELS. AEPLIUATIDH FILED AUG. 5, 1909.

997,884. Patented July 11, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

attaining) UNITED STATES PATENT omen DANIEL n. ELLS, or JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

PROPELLER non FLYING-MACHINES on MARINE vnssnns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11 1911.

Application filed August 5,1909. Serial No. 511,338.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL D. WELLS, citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the gounty of Duval and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propellers for Flying-Machines or Marine Vessels, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to propellers and particularly to bladed propellers for use in either marine or aerial navigation, and the 'objects of the invention are: first; to providea propeller in which the pitch of the blades may be readily. changed while in. operation and without stopping the propeller; second; through this ability to change *the pitch of the blades,- to readily shift the propeller from a go-ahead position to a reversed position, and from'either of these positions to a neutral position -wherein the blades shall have no effect; third; to provide a propeller wherein the blades may be shifted into a position wherein they shall lie parallel with each other and extended in the direction of the axis of the propeller shaft, such position being one wherein the least impediment is presentedto the onward passage of the craft to which the propeller is applied.

- The advantages secured by my invention are reversibility iof the blades,'whereby the reverse movement of the propelled craft can be secured without reversing the engines; va-

riable blade pitch; and ability to fold the blades when desired, as when, in aerial navigation, the propelled craft is soaring, or alighting, was in marine navigation when the craft is under theimpulsi n.0f sails or other power and it is desire to place the propeller blades in a position where they shall oifer the least possible impediment to the passage of a vessel.

' The mechanism for accomplishing these ends includes broadly a propeller shaft having mounted on the extremity thereof a plurality of opposed blades, each blade being rotatable upon-its own axis in an opposite direction to the opposed blade, the inner shaft.

ends or supporting shafts of theblades being angled and the angular ends being provided with gears meshing with an actuating rod carried w' For a full understanding of the inventi on thin the hollow propellerand the merits thereof and also to acquire "a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which: 1

' Figure 1 is a perspective View of my propeller; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the rear end of the propeller shaft, the gears being shown in elevation; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section enlarged of'one of the bearing sleeves and the inner end of a blade shaft; Fig. 4 is afragmentary perspective View of the rear end of the propeller shaftshowing the-gears; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectlon through the outer casing showing a modified form of gear for driving the blades; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through one of the blades; Fig. 7 is a transverse section thereof on the line 77 of Fig.6; Fig. 8 is a view showing the neutral position of the blades; Fig. 9 is an elevation showing the forward drivlng position of the blades; Fig. 10 is a like view of Fig. 9-but showing the reversed position of the blades;

and, Fig. 11 is-a like View of Fig. 9 but showing the folded position of the blades.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to -in the following description and indicated in all the. views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

' Referring to these figures, 2 designates a tubular propeller shaft supported in any desired manner, preferably in ball bearings.

The extremity of the shaft ispreferably thickened and exteriorly screw threaded. A

hubv 3 interiorly screw threaded at one end engages with the end of the propeller shaft.

The outer surface of the extremity of the shaft 2and the inner face of the inner endof the hub 3 are both grooved for the recep tion of a key 2 whereby the hub and shaft are 'held. in rigid engagement witheach other, .so that the hub is prevented from I turning upon the shaft unless the key is withdrawn, when, of course, the hub maybe unscrewed. This hub has a rounded end 4 formed with an opening 5 through its end in line with the axis of the shaft 2. This opening is preferably rectangular in the constructionshown in these figures. hub 3 has projecting from it on opposite side's, oppositely inclined sleeves 6 that are designed to support and afford bearings for V The the angular ends' 'of the propeller blades 7.

I These blades which are formed, as hereinforty-five degrees. The angularly bent end of the ,tubular shaft 8 is provided with a shoulder 10 above the bend in the shaft and at its extremity is exteriorly screw't-hreaded for engagement with lockingnu'ts 11. The bent end of the shaft is adapted to be inserted through the sleeve 6 and, to turn within said sleeve, the sleeve 6 being formed with opposed cups. 12 at each end, designed to contain anti-friction balls, whereby the blade shaft will have an anti-frictional bear; ing within the sleeve 6. 'Fast on the angular sect-ion 9 of the shaft is the toothed gear l3 having inclined teeth." The antifriction balls '12 fit between the cups and the gear wheel 13 at one end, and at the otherfthe anti-friction balls bear against the nuts 11. By screwing down upon the nuts 11, one of whichisa locknut, it will be seen that the shaft/8 will be held .within its bearings in the sleeve 6. It will'also be obvious that the shaft and blade may be rotated within the sleeve 6. J

-Mounted within the tubular drive shaft 2 is' anactuating rod 14 which is preferably tubular and carries at its end the rack 15 having oppositely toothed faces. The rack is rectangular in section and passes through the rectangular opening 5, thus the rack will turn with the shaft 2, but is shiftable longi,

tudinally through the shaft. The teeth on the rack 15 engage with the inclined teeth. on the gear wheels 13. It will be seen that as the gear wheels are inclined at an angle to the axis of the shaft 2, that the teeth on both gear wheels will extendtransversely of the shaft 2, and that the teeth on the-rack 15 also extend transversely of the shaft, and

' that thus the rack will mesh with both of the gear wheels at the same time, and that a movement of the rack in one direction will This rotation not only causes the blades to rotate around the axes of the blade shafts 8,

but also causes the blades to describe a circular movement'around the axes of the bearing sleeves 6. This circular-movement will bring the blades either into a parallel relation to each other, as in Fig. 1-1, or into allnement' with each other, when'they extend transversely of the axis of the shaft 2. This transverse position at various angles toithe shaft '2, is the actuating position of the "blades, except at one portion of-the move 1 ment when the blades are so turned that their surfaces lie in precisely the same plane, when, of course, the blades are incapable of opposed sections, one, of said sections being screw threaded into the other, the -.tvgio sections being so formed on their inner faces 1 'arcuate rack bar 22, whereby the lever may 24 project from the sleeves supporting the casing, countersunk screws holding the casmoving the vessel to which they are attached in either direction. 7

-As a means of shifting the actuating rod 14, I have shown a collar 16 fast on the rod,

- this,co1lar having a circumferential V-shaped 7o groove; 17 which forms a race-way and car-- ries a series of anti friction balls 18. Surrounding the collar 16'and the balls carried therein, isa shipping ring 19 formed in two as to provide .a V-shaped groove carrying the balls 18.. This ring is provided with the usual pins engaging with the bifurcated end of any suitable shifting lever 20. I have shown the extremity of this lever as provided with a'detent. 21 engaging with an be held in any adjusted position. It is to be understood however that I do not wish to limit-myself to this means of shifting the actuating rod- 14, and havemerely shown i it as illustrative of the manner in which the said rod may be shifted. o

While I preferably use'an actuating rod 14 which is formed with opposite rack teeth,

'I wish. it understood that I may .use for the purpose of actuating the blades a rod having an ordlnary plIllOIl 23 thereon, engaging with the opposedgear wheels 13, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen that for this purpose the gears are simply reversed to the position shown in Fig. 2.

Attached to the exterior of the hub 3 by "screws or other suitable means, is an ably made in two approximately semi-ovoid" or semi-conical opposed sections, each section having inwardly turned flanges 25, whereby the sections may be attached to' each other. Screws 26 or other suitable fastening devices pass through coiintersunkopenings in the face of the casing 24 and through the two inwardly turned flanges 25, thus holding the'casing securely together. Screws 27 also pass throughthe rear portions ofthe casing sections and extend into the hub 3 at the rear end thereof. Studs ing in place. The openingsfor these screws are likewise countersunk, so that there shall be no project-ions'upon the exterior face of the casing. It is for thisreason that I form the casing of an ovoid shape, as this form will give theleast resistance to passage through air or other fluid. The casing is, of course, slotted, as at 28, for the passage of the'blade shafts 8.

While I may form the blades in any desired manner, preferably I make the shafts -8 tubular and extend these shafts forward about two-thirdsthe length of the blade 7.

and preferably consists of a flat bladedike plate 29 and a laterally curved plate {30, these two plates being brazed or otherwlse connected to each other along their edges. Both pliites are, of course, conformed at their inner ends to the tubular shaft 8 and are brazed or otherwise attached thereto,

The shaft 2 is, of course, to be driven by' any suitable motor (not shown), while the blade actuating rod is to be moved to its variouspositions and held adjusted in them,

by any suitable mechanism, such as the shipper lever shown. By moving the actuating rod the blade gears arerotated, thus rotating the angled blade shafts and bringing the blades to their several positions. This rotative movement of the blade shafts not only rotates the blades on their axes, thus changing theinclination or pitch of the blades, but also changes the angle ofthe blades to the driving shaft, and thus rotates them around the axial center of the blade shaft bearings.

blades extend at right angles to the shaft 2 and the faces of the blades are both in the same plane, which is at right angles to the shaft. Upon an inward movement of the actuating rod the blades are rotated in. opposite directions, so that the plane of each blade is inclined to the axis of the driving shaft, the opposed blades, however, being inclined-in opposite directions as in all screw propellers. Upon an outward movement of the actuating rod from its neutral position, the blades will b turned upon their axes to an inclination the reverse of that just before described, so. that being driven the blades -wi1l reverse the movement of the vessehwithout the necessity of reversely drivlng the driving shaft, as shown in Fig. 10. When it is desired to fold the blades the actuating rod is moved to swing the blades through .a

one-quarter circle until they occupy the poimpediment to the movement of the vessel or flying machine. ,While the blades are be rotated on their axes to variousv inclinatlons between a full drivin capable of adjustment to these different full positions, it will, be obvious that they may pitch and their neutralposition, thus quickly changing the pitch of the blades to any degree required. This ability to change the In Fig. 8, the blades are shown in their neutral position, that is the inclination, or"

v &

blade pitch is of great-importance and especially when the mechanism is to be applied to propelling a flying machine.

lVhile it is for flying machines that this "propeller has been especially designed, yet

I do not wish to limit myself to this use, as it is obvious that it can be applied to any other form of vessel forthe propulsion there- .of or may be used in any other circumstances where a bladed fan or wheel is applicable.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

propeller 1 '1. In a propelling mechanism, a driving shaft and propeller blades rotatable with the driving shaft, said blades being rotatable individually around their major axes to vary their pitch, said blades being also foldable into and out-of positions of more or less parallelism with the driving shaft, and common means operatively engaging with all of the blades simultaneously for positively rotating the blades around their major axes and moving said blades into or out of their folded positions. a a

' 2. In a propellingmechanism, a driving shaft and abladed propeller,each blade being individually rotatable around its major axis to vary the pitch thereof, and common positively acting means for simultaneously rotating all of said blades around their major axes and folding the blades into and out of positions of more or less parallelism with'the' axis of the driving shaft.

3. In a propelling mechanism, a driving shaft and a bladed propeller rotatable with the driving shaft, the blades of the propeller being each rotatably adjusted around its major axis to vary the pitch of the blade, said blades being simultaneously movable from posit-ions at right angles to the driving shaft to positions of parallelism with the driving shaft, and common, positively acta ing mechanism operatively engaging with the blades for simultaneously rotating the same upon their axes for folding or unfold ing the blades. a 4. In propelling 'IIIBClliLIllSH], a driving shaft, opposed blades carried by said shaft and rotatable therewith, said blades being each rotatable in opposite directions around the longer axes of the blades to change the pitch thereof, and mechanism engaging with the inner ends of the blades for positively.

rotating. them around their major axes and for simultaneously swinging the blades .rotatably mounted upon the driving shaft,

and means engaging with the angularly bent ends of the blade shafts. for rotating said I shafts and blades, thereby causing the blades to rotate about their major axes and simulrotatable therewith, said blades each having an axial shaft having an angularly bent section rotatably mounted upon' the driving shaft, toothed gears fast on the angularly bent sections of the shafts, and mechanism carried by the driving shaft and meshing with the said gears for rotating the shafts;

7. In propelling mechanism, a driving shaft, opposed propeller blades carried by said shaft, each blade supported on an axial shaft formed with an angularly bent see- I 'tion, said angularly bent section being rotatably mounted on the driving shaft, gears fastion the angularly bent sections of theshafts to rotate the same, said gears being bent oppositely inclined to each other, and an ac-' tuating rod extending through the driving shaft and engaging with said teeth to rotate the gears and blade shafts;

8. In propelling mechanism, a driving shaft, opposed propeller blades rotatable with said shaft, each of said blades having an axial shaft formed with an angularly portion, bearings for the angularly bent ends of the blade shafts, gears carried on said angularly bent portions and formed with inclined teeth, one of said gears being inclined in an opposite direction to the opposed ear, and anactuatin rod passed longitu inally' through the riving; shaft and having opposed reek teethmeshing with said gears.

'9 In propelling mechanism, a driving shaft, opposed propelling blades rotatable with said shaft, each of said blades having an axial'sha-ft formed withi an angularly bent portion, "opposed bearings for the an;

- bythe driving shaft, a

gular portions of the blade shafts carried ear wheel on the angular end of each bla e shaft, said gear, wheels being-inclined inopposite directions to each other, teeth on the gear wheels inclined to the axis of the bent end ofthe ;"blade shafts, and an actuating rod extend ,mglongitudinally through the driving shaft'and intermeshing with said gears to rotate the same. 0

10, In propelling mechanism, a tubular driving shaft, a hub carried upon the ex-' I 'tremit'y of .the driving shaftand formed with a rectangular opening through the end thereof, opposed bearing sleeves carried at regular oppositepoints on the hub'and rotatable with. the hub and the driving shaft,- propeller blades having axial shafts formed with angularly bent'end's rotatably mounted within said sleeves, gear wheels fast 'on the bent ends of the blade shafts and having and means for reciprocating said rod-to rotate the gears and propeller blades.

11. In ,propelling mechanism, a driving shaft, opposed blades carried by said shaft and rotatable therewith,.each of said blades having an axial blade shaft formed with an angularly bent end rotatably mounted on the end of the drivingshaft, mechanism carried within the "driving shaft for rotating said blade shafts independently of the rotation of the driving shaft, and a casing at- 'tached'to and carried by the driving shaft "extending around the extremity of the driving shaft, gears, and the inner extremities of the blade shafts and inclosing the gears,

said casing beingformed in detachable sections.

12. In a propelling mechanism; a'driving shaft and propeller blades rotatable with the drivin shaft, said blades also being rotatable individually around their major axes to vary their pitch, said blades being also foldableinto or out of position of more or less" parallelism with the'driving shaft, and means operatively engaging with all of the blades simultaneously for positively rotating the blades'around their major axes and moving said blades out of or into their folded position, said means axially rotating the blades into a like plane when the blades "are at right'angles to the propeller shaft and acting to incline the plane of the blades relatively to each other when theblades are loo turned into a position to more or less than zt right angle to the shaft.

13. In a pro elling mechanism, a driving shaft and propeller blades rotatable .With the driving shaft, each of said .bladeshav mg an axial shaft, said blades being rotatable individually around their majoraxes to vary their pitch and being also fold- 'ableinto or out'of position of more or less pa-rallelism with-the driving shaft,"a mechanism contained within the driving'shaft and engaging said blade shafts for positively rotating said blade shafts around their longitudinal axes. and simultaneously swinging j the blades bodily into and out of positlons of more. or 'lessparallelism with the axis of the driving shaft;

14. In a propelling mechanism, a driving shaft and a bladed propeller, each blade having an axial shaft and each blade and" blade shaft being individuallyrotatable around the major axis of-the blade shaft to vary the pitch of the blade, a gear wheel] on each blade shaft, a mechanism opere- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature tively engaged with all of the gear wheels in presence of two witnesses. A for simultaneously rotating all of said blades DANIEL WEL'LS around their major axes and folding the 5 blades into or out of positions of more or' Witnesses: I

less pargillelism with the axis of the driving I FREDERIC B. WRIGHT, shaft. W. N. WOODSON. 

